Welcome
Hello, I’m Dr. Jen Henderson, and this is The Human Archive. Today’s episode is called “Writing Myself into the World,” and I’m inviting you to join me as we explore what it means to truly see ourselves, to find our voice, and to put our story on the page. ✍️

Episode Summary
Have you ever felt invisible, even to yourself? In this episode, I reflect on the quiet power of writing as a way to claim space, name our experiences, and belong. From the hidden words of Emily Dickinson to the bold declarations of Maya Angelou and Greta Thunberg, I share why so many of us shrink ourselves and how writing—even if it’s never shared—can help us reconnect with who we are. I talk about the moments that gave me permission to begin, the books that softened something inside me, and how writing can become a doorway to self-acceptance and connection.

Key Takeaways

• Writing is a powerful act of self-recognition and belonging
• Many voices, especially those who feel invisible, have changed the world by daring to speak
• You don’t have to be a professional writer to tell your story—your words matter
• Writing can clarify your thoughts, hold your truth, and help you make sense of your experiences
• Sharing your story, even if only with yourself, is an act of courage and self-care

Resources & Links

• If this episode inspired you to write or share your story, I’d love to hear from you, connect with me via my website or on Instagram: @thehumanarchiveofficial
• Recommended reading: works by Emily Dickinson, Maya Angelou, and Malala Yousafzai

Have you written something that helped you find yourself again? Or is there a story inside you waiting to be told? Consider this your nudge to start. Keep telling your truth, even if it begins as a whisper. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share The Human Archive with someone who might need to hear it. 📝

I'd love to hear from you - text the show!

Resources and Links:

• Website: https://escendant.ai
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanarchiveofficial/

Welcome
Hello, I’m Dr. Jen Henderson, and this is The Human Archive. In today’s episode – “Letters I Never Sent and the Stories I Wish I Told” – I’m exploring the words we hold inside, the letters we never posted, and the stories that shape us, even when left unsaid. 📬

Episode Summary
Sometimes, the stories we don’t share are the ones that stay with us the longest. This episode is a gentle invitation to reflect on the unsent letters in our lives – to friends, to loved ones we’ve lost, and even to ourselves. I read aloud two deeply personal letters: one to a friend I drifted from, and another to my Nanny, who taught me the value of patience, memory, and love. I also ask what it might mean to write to our younger selves, or to the versions of us we’ve hidden away. Why do we stop sharing these stories? And how can writing – even if never sent – help us heal and connect? 💌

Key Takeaways

• Letters slow us down and invite honesty that’s often missing in quick messages
• Unsent letters can offer closure, healing, and a sense of connection, even if never delivered
• Writing to ourselves can be a powerful act of forgiveness and self-understanding
• Sharing our stories, even privately, is a profoundly human way to make sense of our experiences
• Keeping old letters, recipes, and notes is a way of honouring memory and leaving a trace of ourselves behind

Resources & Links

• If this episode inspired you to write your own letter, I’d love to hear about your experience. Feel free to share your thoughts or stories with me via my website or social media.
• Connect with me on Instagram: @thehumanarchiveoffical

Have you ever written a letter you never sent? Or kept a note that means the world to you? This is your permission to let those words out – whether on paper, in a file, or just spoken aloud. Be gentle with your past, and so incredibly brave with your words. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share The Human Archive with someone who might need to hear it. 📝

I'd love to hear from you - text the show!

Resources and Links:

• Website: https://escendant.ai
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanarchiveofficial/

Welcome
Hello and welcome back to The Human Archive. I’m Dr. Jen Henderson, and today, we’re opening a different kind of book, one you won’t find in any library or bookshop. Instead, it’s the book that lives between generations, woven through half-remembered conversations and the stories we inherit from those who came before us.

Episode Summary
In this episode, “The Stories We Inherit,” I explore the invisible threads that connect us to our families and ancestors. I reflect on those moments when we catch ourselves sounding like our parents or grandparents, and how these echoes shape the way we live, love, and even parent. Some stories are shared openly and retold on every occasion, while others remain unspoken, their silence carrying just as much weight. I share personal memories of my nan, who taught me the value of presence and consistency, and I consider how the pace of modern life challenges us to keep these gentle, enduring forms of love alive. We also look at the stories we might not want to carry forward, those born of trauma or survival—and how we can choose which legacies to honour and which to gently lay down.

Key Takeaways
✨ We inherit more than just physical traits, we carry the stories, habits, and even the silences of generations before us
✨ Not every story we’re handed is ours to keep; we have the power to rewrite and release what no longer serves us
✨ Presence and consistency can be the most profound gifts, even when unspoken
✨ Recording our stories, whether in writing or as a voice memo, helps them survive for future generations
✨ Reflecting on what we wish to pass on allows us to shape our own legacy with intention

Resources & Links

• Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club – a powerful exploration of inherited stories
• If today’s episode has stirred a memory or a question, I’d genuinely love to hear from you. Please reach out, every message is read and cherished.

As you go about your day, I invite you to consider: What stories have you inherited? Which ones do you want to keep, and which are you ready to let go of? Perhaps take a moment to write one down or record it. Remember, our stories are more than entertainment - they’re blueprints and echoes of those who came before us. Thank you for listening to The Human Archive. Take care of yourselves, and take care of your stories.

I'd love to hear from you - text the show!

Resources and Links:

• Website: https://escendant.ai
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanarchiveofficial/